Rescue and relief works in most of the disaster-affected villages have been completed except Bastadi in Pithoragarh district. The search and rescue operations have been made more daunting due to the size of the area covered by debris - five kilometres long from Bastadi to Charmagadh with breadth varying from 50 metres to 300 metres. Amidst the scene of destruction, three goats and one calf were extracted alive from the debris on Monday, boosting those who are still hoping to find their family members alive since the disaster on July 1.
Addressing the media disaster management secretary Shailesh Bagauli said that search and rescue operation in Bastadi is being conducted with equipment including the victim locating device, two life detectors, collapsed structure search and rescue equipment with chainsaws and other tools. Additionally a dog squad is also being used to ascertain the possibility of survivors in need of rescue. At least 12 persons are still missing since the disaster in Bastadi where the search and rescue teams have continued their efforts.
He informed that Chief Minister Harish Rawat had reviewed disaster management late on Sunday night in Dehradun and as per his instructions an additional sum of Rs 12 crore has been allocated as per the demand of district magistrates. To speed up relief works, official authority has been extended to authorise sub-divisional magistrates and Tehsildars to approve Rs 50,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for disaster works.
By Monday evening the death toll in Pithoragarh reached 17 with bodies being recovered while eight persons remain missing in the area with 160 families affected in five villages. In Chamoli district, 28 families in four villages have been affected by the disaster with three persons dying and four still missing. A total of 174 and 168 cattle deaths have been reported from Pithoragarh and Chamoli respectively.
According to official data, a total of 411 roads were blocked on July 2 and 82 more roads were blocked on July 3. Presently, 211 of the total blocked roads have been cleared and reopened for traffic while work is progressing on the remaining 282 blocked roads. All the main roads in the state are open for traffic.
Till date, power supply was disrupted by landslides in total 1087 villages and settlements of which 937 villages have had their power supply restored with work underway for restoration of power supply to remaining 150 villages.
The 33 Kv line being damaged in Ghat tehsil of Chamoli district, power supply to about 90 villages and settlements had been disrupted with officials expecting to restore power supply on Tuesday.
Similarly, in the Didihat tehsil of Pithoragarh district the supply of power to 45 villages had been disrupted with the same being restored in 24
villages. The Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited has sent eight mobile charging vans to the disaster affected area in Pithoragarh in order to provide mobile charge facility to the affected people. Similarly, one mobile charging van has been sent to the disaster affected area of Ghat in Chamoli district.
Bagauli further informed that of the total 87 drinking water schemes which had been damaged, supply had been restored in 32 schemes with supply through the remaining 54 slated to be restored by July 6. The Secretary said that supply of water and power will be restored in all the affected areas within the next couple of days.
Referring to the weather forecast for the coming days, the secretary said that as per the meteorological deparment forecast there is probability of light rain in places across the State from July 4 and 8 with probability of isolated incidence of heavy rain.